These are the details of a game plan that shows weakness in the coaching staff (stand up Mr Muir), lack of appreciation of player fatigue and attributes and finally just a lack of coaching.

AB’s the opposite. Drilled to run back the kicks, support the ball carrier, attack tackle ball and finally to win over the refs and citing officals.

It is like golf , you play with the swing you bring , if your swing is **** , then instead of blaming everything else learn to play with what is going on at once. You dont win a game a day later after everything has been analysed . You do that before the game! Make sure you are fully prepared, for everything including the referee . If you know the ref is focused is slowing the ball down , then dont go there are the first 3 penalties.

Boks are slow to adapt, simple really, get more brains and less brawn on the field, the brawn has already cost you two games so far…

And to anyone who questions his abilities due to his size I simply say this. He has consistently been picked at every agegroup level, u/19 SA, Bulls S14 and CC, Emerging Boks and Boks level by different sets of selectors in recognition of the effectivity of his play. They can’t all be wrong. He has played against every individual he is bound to come up against at S14 level and has consistently out-performed them. Are we waiting for him to go stale due to lack of gametime like they did to Kanko before we play him as last resort? His heart is huge.

the origin of species

16 BJ
17 Gurthro
18 Flip
19 Flo
20 January
21 WO
22 Hougaard

I agree 100% with your 9 – 15. This will inject some serious pace into the Bok backline which was badly needed against the AB’s

A complacent mindset is the classic Achilles heel of South African sport.

I totally agree with you there are certain players who get handed test caps week after week who don’t deserve it! It’s a joke!

But still there are some very experienced players in the Springbok team who should by now know what to do if the ref is not blowing the game that they are accustomed to.

Play the rules to what you see on the day!

The primary way that rushing up will tweak our defense is in the way the opensider needs to defend. Under the rush-defense, the opensider do not need to hunt down the nr10 as viciously, allowing both him and the nr8 to cover the defensive line behind the backline.

Louw gave Carter too much space in these tests as he is not the quickest opensider. This was even more complicated by Louw’s unwillingness to perform the first tackle as he is scavenging deck ball that results from his peers’ tackles.

Granted the opposition does not cleverly use chips and grubbers, a nr8 can arguably get away with fewer sweeping under the rush defense.

Usually, one can sense the mood in the camp by reading the media and keeping your ear on the ground.

In hindsight, I think the Bok management clearly forgot how difficult it is to win away from home.

One could sense their and the players’ easygoing approach in the pre-tournament buildup via media statements and the selection policies in the June tests. Those same comments got reiterated on this very site by supporters.

Goodness, there were even talks about resting certain players in the home leg after we return from Australia!!

The team certainly had their humble pied served to them and their were no kiwifruit for dessert. Currently I observe a frustrated and unmotivated bunch of players.

They’ve fallen off their horses, and while it is certainly time to get back up, maybe they should reconsider the horse.

I am a very big supporter of the rush defense, or at least a variation on the theme. The following are my reasons:

a. Tackles are made behind their advantage line which means their forwards have to turn around to join rucks and ours are on the front foot automatically

b. It takes away much of the decision makers’ time and space.

c. It is easier to make direction adjustments to counter the opponent’s attempted side steps or scissor movements in their backline when you are on the front foot.

d. Don’t ask me why, but it is much easier to read the opponents’ attacking movements when you are on the front foot.

What the rush defense will demand of us:

a. A scrumhalf and openside flank to cover the space behind the defensive line

b. A no 8 who reads the game and can position himself to receive kicks into space.

c. Tremendous trust in among team mates and confidence in the system.

I saw a couple of occasions on Saturday where Wynand Olivier was employing the drift defense and Mossie and Steyn rushed up, leaving a huge hole for Nonu to attack. Olivier tackled him most of the time, but only after the former had crossed the advantage line and the ensuing ruck gave them quick ball from which to attack.

I think the team is caught between two systems. My conclusion is that there is not agreement regarding the system that should be used.

The rush defense will work for us if we have a deadly defender at no 7, a fast and intelligent no 9, and a naturally talented no 8 who has the strength to carry the ball up should he be found isolated after fielding a kick. We have none of the above